Machine for cutting corn from ears of corn



H. E. LE JEUNE MACHINE FOR CUTTING CORN FROM EARS 0F CORN Filed Sept. 8,1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 JZZZLeJzzm 2 INVENTOR.

BY a i I a Oct. 7, 1947. H. E. LE JEUNE 2,428,522

I MACHINE FOR CUTTING CORN FROM EARS 0F CORN Filed Sept. 8, 1944 3Sheets-Sheet 2 army/vars.

Q I .fl HHh dnMHH m at. g M Q MRN em Z W NR E.

MACHINE FOR CLJTTING CORN FROM EARS 0F CORN y H.- E. LE JEUNE Filed'sepcl 8, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ififlleefeuize Y INVENTOR.

iatenteci Oct. 7,

MACHINE FOR CUTTING CORN FROM EARS OF CORN Henry Ernest Le Jeune,Thibodaux, La. I Application September 8, 1944, Serial No. 553,235

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for cutting the kernels from cars ofcorn, preparatory to canning the corn.

An important object of the invention is to provide a. machine of thischaracter especially designed for home canning to facilitate the cuttingof the corn kernels from ears of corn, eliminating the danger of theperson cutting his hands with the knife, which is usually movedlongitudinally of the ear of corn, during the cutting operation. It is afurther object of the invention to provide. a machine which willappreciably speed up the operation of cutting the corn kernels from earsof corn, the machine being designed to accurately cut the corn close tothe cob, reducing waste to a minimum.

With the foregoing and other objects in View which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel steps inthe method and certain'details of construction and combinations of partshereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it beingunderstood that changes may be made in the nethoddisclosed and in theconstruction and arrangement of parts without'departing from the spiritof the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a corn cuttingmachine,constructed in accordance'with the invention. p I

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

FiguleBis asectional view taken on line 3-3, Figure 2. I

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4, of Figure 1. V

4 Figure 5 is an elevational view of supporting means for the ear ofcorn being cut.

7 Figure '6 is an elevational view of the means for supporting one endof the ear of corn under treatment.

Figure 7 is a detail view of the cam operating the sliding pin.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 indicatesthe base of the ma-- the machine fall.

The frame which supports the rotary cutting blade of the machine, issecured within the base I and comprises standards 6, which arisetherefrom. The upper ends of the standards 6 are connected by means ofthe wide plate I on which the bearings'for the shaft of the cuttingblade are supported.

The reference character 8 indicates the shaft on which the rotary bladeof the machine is mounted, the shaft being supported in bearings S andII] that are secured to the plate I, at one end thereof.

Mounted on the plate I, above the shaft 8, is an inverted U-shapedmember II which is formed with bearing openings for the shaft I2, whichhas its forward end tapered, providing a prong I3 adapted to extend intoone end of an ear of corn. Secured to the shaft I2 at a point exteriorlyof the member I I, is a disk It which is provided with teeth I5 spacedappreciable distances apart, between the teeth I5 are recesses I6 forthe reception of the sliding pin I'I that moves through openings in themember II. This sliding pin I1 acts to hold the disk and shaft I2against movement, for a predetermined period of time. Operating at rightangles to the disk I4, and secured to the shaft 8, is a finger I8 whichis adapted to contact with the teeth I5 as the shaft 8 rotates, movingthe disk periodically the distance between adjacent teeth of the disk.As shown, a tooth of the disk I4 is always in the path of travel of thefinger I8 as the finger rotates, to cause this rotary movement of thedisk.

Spurs I9 are also extended from the disk I4, and are also designed to beforced into one end of the ear of corn being supported by the machine,so that the ear of corn will be rotated with the disk. Secured to thesliding pin I1, and extended downwardly therefrom, is an arm 20 thatnormally rests against the collar 2| which is formed with a cam surface22, so that as the shaft 8 rotates, the cam surface will move the arm29, with the result that the sliding pin will be retracted from therecess of the disk I4, releasing the disk for rotary movement. One

end of the sliding pin is slotted and accommodates the spring 23 that issecured within the member If by means of a bolt 24'. This spring acts tonormally urgethe sliding pin toward the disk It, with the result thatthe movement of the pin by the cam surface 22 of the collar 2|,actsagainst the spring. It will, of course, be understood that thecollar 2I is so positioned with respect to the finger I8 that thesliding pin will be moved to release the disk, just prior to the contactof the finger I8, with the tooth of the disk lying in the path of travelof the finger Mounted on the end of shaft 8 is. a blade supporting disk24 to which the blade 25 is secured, the blade having an openingadjacent-to its inner end, through which the shaft 8 extends. As shownbyFigure 1 of the drawings, the blade 25 is of a construction 'so that asthe blade rotates it will out throughout the length of an ear of cornsupported by the machine, eliminating the necessity of providingmechanical means for moving the blade longitudinally of the ear of cornbeing cut.' Due to the construction of the blade it will be seen thatthe blade takes a sweeping action along the ear of corn, the cuttingedge of the blade being indicated by {the reference character 26. Theblade supporting disk 24 is mounted eccentrically on the shaft 8, to theend that the normal inactive position of the cutting blade will be suchthat after an ear of corn has been positioned in the machine, thecutting :blade 7 i will contact the kernels at one end of the ear ofcorn and sweep across the ear qf ;corn,,cutting gaging the ratchet wheel34 secured to the shaft 8.

What -is claimed is: 1. A machine for cutting corn from the cob,

comprisin a, frame, a rotary member for supporting an ear of corn on theframe, a horizontal shaft mounted on the frame, a disc splined on a rowof kernels longitudinally, of the ear of 7 corn.

The disk 24 is secured to the shaft 8 by means j of the key 8', sothat'the disk may move longitudi all of t s aft8- Dismsed betw n thedisk 2:4 and the finger 1518 is, the coiled spring, .27, which acts,toseparatelthefiisk 2,4 and finger J8. Secured to the outer threadedend of vthes'haft 8 ,is ;.the wing ,nut 13 ,which ,acts to, restrict.outmard novement of the disk '24 .ton' the shaft 8, andat the same timeproyides means for tensioning thespring .21. llhus ;it.wi,ll beseen thatdue .to ,tlns construction the cutting of the corn from the cobs may beregulated.

'Iheoperating handle by, means of which the blade. supporting .disk241s. operated extends from the d ski is indicated bathe reference char?,a ter ,28, the handle 'beinggeccentric'ally mounted io t e d sk.

' elfhe plate 7 isformed-withan elongated open- An opening is formed inthe member .129 and re- ,cei-ves :thelower-right angled ,end of thesecuring member 3 I, which is. formed with a flat portion to provide aclearance between the securing tmember and plate, .so that the member 29will be moved longitudinally of the plate]. When securing member 3| ismoved to- .the position 'shown by Figure ..6 .of the drawings, a bindingactionisset up between themember 3| .and upper, plate, securingthemember ,3] in variousposi- ,tionsof adjustment along the slot.

,Apinsindicated at. 32 extends from the member 2&3, and is adapted .to,be extended into one end of .the .ear of corn tobe cut, the pini3| co,-pperatingwith the prongs l3 ,and 1.9,.infil1DPO1fting the ear of ,corn.

A, pulley indicated at 33 is secured'tothe disk ,24, so that thedevicemay be power-operated through the medium off a ,power belt operatingover the pulley.

In operating the machine anwearlof -corn is positioned 0 the -.prong i3and the pin 32 is ,extendedinto the outer ,end of the ear of corn,firmly supporting .theear of ,corn on the. machine.

The operating handle'is now operated .toro- .tate the diskaand cuttingbla'de. The cutting blade will cutthe kernels from the ear of cor-n.lpngitudinally of .the ear of c0rn,,.and the construction of the bladeis such that when the blade has movedthroughout the length .of the ear,,of corn, the pjin H ,will be operated to release the disk M, The fingerl8 nowcontacts one ,of the pins of the disk 16, rotating the disk a dis-;J;ance.equa tot e di tan e l-between vadjaccent 40 gitudinal movement,withrespect tothc plate 7 a finger secured tot-he shaft, a rotary bladesup- I the shaft, means for restricting outward move- I =ment of thedisk on the shaft, an elongated curved cutting blade secured to the discand adapted to cut corn from the cob, supported on the frame, a, fingersecured tothe.shaft,.a yield- 7 able member disposed on the'shaftbetween the disc and finger in frictional engagement withithe disc andfinger yieldably securing the disc .to the shaft, means controlledby'the operation of the shaft for periodically rotating the rotary cornsupporting member a predetermined distance with each rotation of theblade, and means for holding the corn supporting 'member, againstmovement during the cutting operation. 4

2. A machine for cutting corn from comprising a frame, a shaft extendingtransverse- *ly of the frame, --a disc splined on the shaft, a coilspring mounted-on the shaft and bearing against the disc, means forrestricting outward movement of the 'disc onthe shaft, a finger securedto the shaft and against which one end of the spring engages, means forcompressing the spring between the disc and fingeryielda-bly securingthe disc to the shaft, an elongated curved blade "secured -on the disc,rotary "means for supporting an ear of cornonthe frame in the path oftravel of the blade, said finger means being controlled by the rotationof the shaft for rotating said corn supporting means at intervals, andmeans for securing the rotary arrn supporting means against rotationduring each cuttin g'operation. N

3. A machine for-cutting-corn from its cob, comprising a frame, anoperating shaft mounted on the frame, a rotarycorn supporting memberhaving spaced radial teeth mounted on madame,

port splined on the shaft, an elongated blade securedto the bladesupport, a coiled spring disposed between the blade support and fingeryeldably securing the blade to the shaft,,;means' for restricting outward;rn ovement of the blade support on the shaft, and said finger adapted.to engage the teethrof the ear of corn supporting member, rotating theear of corn after each cut ting operation. 7

' 4. A machine for cutting born from. the cob, comprisin a frame, avshaft mounted on the rametary c support mounted onlt e f ame a dap dtoex en i to oneend ,o'f flain ear ,ofcorn, securlngthe ,ear of corn tothesupport, said support havingrecesses, ,a cornncuttin blade secured tothe shaft, means for yieldably conne tin th blade to th shaft, ash'dingp n contmll dibyt peratio p th s i 'an adapted toextend intojtherecessesand holdthc corn cob support against movement during the corncutting operation, means for releasing Said pin after each operation ofthe bladeg anfd means controlled bytheaction of theshaft forf'rdtatingits cob,

the subport for the ear of corn, whereby rows of the corn are moved intothe path of travel of the rotary blade. 2 133 5 HENRY ERNEST LE JEUNE.

REFERENCES CITED igggg The following references are of record in the343587 file of this patent: 230,111

6 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Spang May 24, 1938 Burrell et a1. Oct.19, 1880 Wheeler Feb. 6, 1940 Dean Nov. 8, 1887 Koch et a1 June 15, 1886Cunningham July 20, 1880

